I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed + Credentialed Art Therapist (LCAT) in Oregon and a nationally Registered + Credentialed Art Therapist (ATR-BC). I provide mental health counseling to individuals, couples, and families, ages 10+.
What Is Art Therapy?
I believe we all have the distinct human need to create, whether it is music or a poem, a meal, a home, a business, or a family. Creating is a way of connecting our internal experiences with the world around us and seeing ourselves as a part the world. When art is part of a therapy session, it is another way to connect to the world--to see how events and those around you influence your emotions, thoughts, and patterns and how you impact them. It is done in conjunction with talking. Art therapy is not about making a pretty picture you want to hang on your living room wall. It is not about artistic ability or “doing it right”. It is not even about learning to “do it right”. It is about expressing yourself in the moment in a safe and non-judgmental space to convey your emotions and ideas, to release tension, and to gain insight into your inner world through color, image, and the physical act of creating. My role as an art therapist, when you are making art, is twofold: 1) to support and free up your own process, and 2) to help you describe and find meaning in your creation and to relate it to your larger therapy process.
To learn more about my practice, or to see if I may be a good match as a therapist, find me here: amyponteri.com
What Is Art Therapy?
I believe we all have the distinct human need to create, whether it is music or a poem, a meal, a home, a business, or a family. Creating is a way of connecting our internal experiences with the world around us and seeing ourselves as a part the world. When art is part of a therapy session, it is another way to connect to the world--to see how events and those around you influence your emotions, thoughts, and patterns and how you impact them. It is done in conjunction with talking. Art therapy is not about making a pretty picture you want to hang on your living room wall. It is not about artistic ability or “doing it right”. It is not even about learning to “do it right”. It is about expressing yourself in the moment in a safe and non-judgmental space to convey your emotions and ideas, to release tension, and to gain insight into your inner world through color, image, and the physical act of creating. My role as an art therapist, when you are making art, is twofold: 1) to support and free up your own process, and 2) to help you describe and find meaning in your creation and to relate it to your larger therapy process.
To learn more about my practice, or to see if I may be a good match as a therapist, find me here: amyponteri.com